Extension table



Nov. 15, 1932. J. l.. PULAsKl EXTENSION TABLE Filed Dec. 17. 1951 Ami 3 \nven1ov. Jacob L PukyK bywa www ATB/S.

latented Nov. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE JACOB I.. PU'LASKI, OF WEST `IEtOXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR,. BY DIRECT AND IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, VT0 MIRACLE TABLE CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACI'IU'- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF. MASSACHUSETTS i Vnx'rnlvsroiv .TABLE Application filed December 17, 1931. Serial No. 581,643.

This invention relates to extension tables Asuch as commonly used'fordining tables and similar purposes in which a central leaf positioned beneath the` plane of the Vtable top is automatically raised into position' when the table is extended. i i

The object of the invention is further to provide an extension table embodying a rotatable actuator acting when rotated in one direction to separate the Vmain leaves of the table, then to raise'a central leaf from a position beneath the main leaves into the plane of the main leaves, and then to bring the main leaves into edge to edgeengagement with the central leaf, and further acting when rotated in the opposite direction to separate the main leaves, then to lower the central leaf to its concealed position, and then to move the main leaves together to closed position.

The object of the invention is further to ,provide an extension table with; a simple form of mechanism for securing the foregoing desired results in which the actuator is rotated by a lever projecting laterally therefrom so that all the user has to do is to Vmove Ithis lever in one directionto secure the complete result either as it is desired-to extend the table or to return it to closed position. i

VThese and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawing particularly `pointe-diout in the Fig. 3 is a side view showing'the table in closed position. Y

The table is provided with a suitable supporting frame, the general shape and construction of which may be varied as desired so long as it provides the necessary supporting elements for the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the frame com- 0 prises the side members 1 and the endk members 2 united to form a rectangular structure and a central cross member y3 extending midway between and secured'to the side members 1 of the frame. Four legs Ll'are shown secured to the rectangular frame and a central Aleg 5 secured tothe cross member 3. A skirt 6 surrounds the rectangular frame and provides a desired finish.

There are two main leaves 7 and 8 mounted to slide toward and from `each other on the frame. These main leaves, when brought together into edge and edge engagement, as shown in Fig.,3, define the normal size of the table.

They may be of any desiredshape and configuration excepting that at theirv abutting edges they are desirably finished to v lit together as by means of the tongue 9on c vof the frame and thus guide the main leaves Y in their. movements toward and from eachy y Y other. 1

rIhe central leaf 12 normally occupiesa position, as shown in Fig. 3, beneath the plane ofthe main leaves and is mounted for up and down movementl on the frame; In the construction illustrated, a rectilinear up and.

down movement of the central leaf is secured by providing it with vertical studs 13 secured thereto and mounted to slide vertically in corresponding apertures in the cross member 3 of the frame. This central leaf is finished `-at its edges to correspond with they main leaves and consequently is shown as provided with a. groove 14 to cooperate with the tongue 9 and a tongue 15 to cooperate with the groove 10.

A rotatable actuator -in the form of a disk Y 16 is journalled centrally at 17 on the supporting frame directly beneath the central l leaf and as here shown also beneath the cross member 3. In the preferred construction illustrated, the movements of the main leaves toward and from each other are secured'by similar cams on this actuator co-acting with liu' cam slides secured to the leaves. For this purpose the actuator 16 is provided with cam slots, each of which hasa similar separating section 18 and contracting section 19. Cam

nfio

slide bars 2O secured at their outer ends to the main leaves are provided with roller studs `21 fitting in and coacting with the respective camyslots. lt will thus be seen that when the tablejis in closed position, if the actuator be rotated in the direction of the arrow 22, the studs 21 riding from the inner to the outer ends of the cam slot sections 18 Lwill move the main leaves apart, and then as this rotaryy movement of the actuator is continued, and the studs ride in the sections 19 of the cani slots, the leaves will be drawn toward each other, and consequently when the actuator is rotatedV in the opposite direction, the reverse movementsV of the main leeres will take Place! The up and down movement of the central leaf is secured in the construction iilustrated by leaf lifters 1 at each side of the supporting frame extending beneath the central leaf and having cro-acting cam engagements with the cross member 3 ofthe frame.

VThese leafv lifter-s are` ofl similar construction. The leaf lifter 23 is pivoted at 24 to the slide bar 11 of the main leaf to swing up and down. It entends over and rests vupon the top of. the cross member 3 and is-guided between guide strips 25 secured thereto. The leaf lifter isof suiiicient thicliness so that Vwhen its shank rests directly on the cross member 3 with the central leaf 12resting on top, the centraly leaf will be maintained. in its normal loweimostv position shown in Fig. 3. Atits outer end 25 the leaf lifter is of sufficient thiclniess'so'that when this end rests on the crossL member 3, the central leaf will be maintained in the pianeof the main leaves. A cam surface 27 connecting the yshank of the leaflifter withthe end 26 rides on the edge of the cross member 8 to give the raisingand lowering movements of the leaf lifter-as it is moved longitudinally. The other. leaf lifter 28 pivoted at 29 to the main leafS is o f similar construction and funetionsy in asimilar manner.

The; operationoffthe rotatable actuator is preferablyV secured by a lever handle 30' projecting laterally andradiallyv therefrom.

y Means are also provided for lockingl the lever 3Q in each of its extreme positions and thereby locking theactuator against unintentional rotation so that the table is firmly maintained eitherits closedor itsteXtended position. For this purposebevelled positioning lugs 3 1 aresecured on the under side of the supporting' frame andso positioned that when, the leverBOreaches its extreme position, it slides underhand snaps into position against the outerface of one of these lugs.,

Means are also provided to insure that the central `leaf shall Ibe maintained in the plane lof the main leaves when the main close.l upon the central leaf even if a lowering movement of the leaf lifters takes place at thistime. For this purpose the tinga'ndwith the Ycentral leaf 12 beneath the plane of the main leaves and resting upon the shanks of the leaf lifters'23 and 28, the lever 30 will be in engagement with the positioning lug 31 at the right. When, now, it is desiredto extend the table, the user seizes the lever 30, depresses it slightly to clear the lug 31, and then moves it tothe left, thus causing rotation of the actuatorin the direction of thefarrowy 22. As thisrotation takes place, the studs 21 ride out from the inner to the outer ends of the sections-18 of the cam slots and. slide the mainleaves apart a distance greaterv than the width of the central leaf. The parts are shown when they have reached this position in Figs. 1 and 2. rlhis movement of the main leaves causes the ends of the leaf lif'ters 23 andV 28 by theirfcam engagement with the cross member` 3 to ride up onptop of thecross member and thusto lift ormoveupward the'central leaf into the plane of-the main leaves yand to bring the lower ends ofthestuds 13 above the plane of the Vactuator dislr 16. As now the rotation ofthe actuator continues in the direction of thev arrow 22the studs 21 ride from the outer rtoward they inner ends ofthe sections 19 of .thei cam slots, thus causing the main leaves `to move toward each other and forcing them into Vaffirm edge to edge engagement with the centraldeaf. Asthis movement causes endi" wise movement of the leaf lifters which might result inv the centralV leaf being lowered before it is engaged and clamped by the main leaves, the lateral projections 32 ride beneath i l. vthe studs l13V and thus maintain the raised positi on ofthe central leaf. When the rotation o f the actuator is completed, the lever 33 snaps behind the positioning lug 31 at the left.

Vhen ity-is desired to contract theeXten-i? lsion table, the reverse movement is given and theflever SOj-is swung fromA the left to the -f right, the cam slotsacting, first,V to move the Vmam leaves apart, thus freeingA the central.

leaf, `and again bringing theV parts into the i position*l shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and then as the rotation of the actuator continues, the

. freeends of theleaf lifters rideoif the cross member 3, the central leaf is lowered andthe main leaves are again. brought together into edge, `ro-[edge engagement.

i Themainleaves are preferably provided at :the bottomwithafmolding 33 corresponding toithe ends of the central leaf so that when ,a the central leaf is in its lowermost position, i

it will align and interlock withthis molding and give a. nished appearance 'to the table in its closed position, as zshown in Fig.- 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be vsecured by Letters Patent, is:

l. An extension table comprising a supporting frame, main leaves mounted to slide toward and from each other on the frame, a central leaf mounted to move up and down on the frame, a rotatable actuator j ournalled on the frame, having means respectively operable in sequence by the rotation of the actuator in one direction, to slide the main leaves apart a distance greater than the Width of the central leaf, means to move the central leaf from a position beneath up into the plane of the main leaves, and, means to slide the main leaves together into edge to edge engagement with tive means being operably connected to said rotatable actuator, whereby said means will be operable by continued rotation of the actuator in one direction.

2. An extension table comprising a supporting frame, main leaves mounted to slide toward and from each other on the frame, a central leaf mounted to move up and down on the frame, a rotatable actuator journalled on the frame, having means respectively operable in sequence by the rotation of the actuator in one direction, to slide the main leaves apart a distance greater than the width of the central leaf, means to move the centra-1 leaf from a posit-ion beneath up into the plane of the main leaves, means to slide the main leaves together into edge to edge engagement with the central leaf, said respective means being operably connected to said rotatable actuator, whereby said means will be operable, by continued rotation of the actuator in one direction, and operated by the rotation of the actuator in the opposite direction, first,

to slide the main leaves away from the central leaf, second, to lower the centra-l leaf beneath the plane of the main leaves and, third, to slide the main leaves together into edge to edge engagement.l

3. An extension table comprising the construction defined in claim 2, together with an operating lever secured to and extending laterally from the actuator and positioning lugs on the frame to'engage and lock the lever when the actuatoris in either of its extreme rotary positions, thereby to prevent uninten-V tional `rotation thereof.

porting frame, main leaves mounted to slide rectilinearly toward and from each other on' the central leaf, said respec- An extension table comprising a sup slides'5'a'pa-ir of'leaf lifters one at, each side of the frame extending beneath the central leaf and connected" to the respective main leaves andhaving verticalI cam engagement with the frame, the said elements co-acting upon the rotation of the actuator in one dii rection, irstftoslide the main leaves lapart Va distance greater than the width ofthe cen- Vtral leaf, second, to lift the central leaf from a position beneath into the plane of the main leaves, third, to slide the main leaves together into edge to edge engagement with thev cenltral leaf and (3o-:acting upon the rotation of the actuator in the opposite direction, first, to slide the main leaves away fromy the central leaf, second, to lower the central leaf toY a position beneath the plane of the main leaves, and, third, to slide the Vmain leaves together` into edge to edge engagement. f

v5. An extension table comprising the con- .Y "struction defined in claim 4, in which the rectilinear up and down movement of thecentral leaf is determined by vertical studs secured to the central Vleaf and extendingy through guiding apertures in the frame.

6. An extensiontable comprising the construction deiined in claim 4, in which the rectilinear up and down movement of the central leaf-is determined by vertical studs secured to the central "leaf and extending SII,Vl

through guiding aperturesin the frame,iand

in which the actuatorlis provided with lateral diametrically-disposed projections moved by the actuator beneath the studs during that portion of the rotation of the actuator which effects the movement of the main leaves from their extremeseparated position to their edge to edge engagement with the central leaf, l whereby the stud projections maintain the central leaf in raised position notwithstand-fl ing any lowering movement of the leaf lifters.

7 An extension table comprising a supporting frame, mainleaves mounted to slide toward and from each other" on the frame, a central leafA mounted to move up andv downzno on the frame, a'rotatable actuator j ournalled on the frame, cam connections between the actuator and the main leaves acting upon the rotation .ofthe actuator in one direction, first,

y to slide the main leaves apart 'a distance"y 15 .greater thanfthefwidth of the central leaf and, second, tov slidethe main leaves together y until .separated'only by the width of the cen,-

tral leaf and acting upon the rotation yof the,12o

actuator in the opposite. direction kto'effect` similar reverse movements of the main leaves, and leaf lifters disposed at each side of the frame raised by co-action with the main leaves and the frame upon thefrotation of theftiz actuatorin the firstdirection to lift the central leaf up into the.Y plane ofandbetween the main leaves and lowered by said co-action A'upon the rotation of the actuator in the opposite direction to lower the central` leaftd of the actuator in one loWthe-.plane of the main leaves, and yoperable .of its swinging movement it Aconcealed beneath the leaves of the table.

a position beneath the planeef the main leaves. Y, Y Y

8. An extension table comprising the construction defined in claim l, together with aan operating lever secured to and extending laterally from the actuator for effecting the rotary movement of the actuator.

9. An extension table comprising Mupon. continu ed rotation in saidopp'osite direction to slidethe main leaves together into edgeto edge engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have Yname to this specifi signed my cation.

JACOB L. PULASKI.

the construction deflned in claim 2, together With an secured. to and extending to and extending for effecting. the

laterally of said they actuator Vfor effecting the rotable comprising the con- 2,. together with and means table comprising the conanoperating lever I actuator for effecting rotative movement thereof and of such length that at either limit will be Wholly l2. An extension table comprising a supporting frame,

central leaf mounted'. to move up and down on the frame-,a rotatable actuator journalled on the frame, means operable byv the rotation of the actuator .in one direction to slide the main leaves apart adistance greater than the Width of the central leaf, means operable upon said yseparation of the main leaves to move the centralleaf from a posi-tionbeneath upinto the plane ofthe `main leaf,.and means operable upon'continuedrotation ofthe actuator in the same direction to slide the main leavesr together intoedge to edgefengagement With the centralleaf.

13. An extension table comprising a. supe porting frame, main leaves mounted to' slide toward andfrom each other on the frame, ace-ntral. leaf mounted to moveup and'dovvn main leavesmounted tol slide toward and froml eachl other on` the frame, a

on the frame7 a rotatable actuator journalled on the-frame, means operable by the rotation main leaves apart a distance greater than the Width ofi the central leaf,.means operable f 'upon said separation ofthe main leaves-to move the central leaf from a'position beneath up into thev plane-of' themain-leaf", means direction to slide the operable upon continued rotation-ofi the actuator in the leaves together intoV edgey to edge engagement with' thecentral leaf, and means operablexby continued rotation yof` thel actuator same direction to slidefthe main in the opposite direction. iirst to'islde the.. Y

main leavesawayx from the central lea-f thus p ermittingthe central leaf to be depressed -be- 

